Titus, Libby: Singer/songwriter Libby Titus was born Elizabeth Jurist in Woodstock. She is married to Steely Dan's Donald Fagen -- an occasional Woodstock-area resident -- and is the mother to Amy Helm, whom she had from her relationship with famed Band drummer Levon Helm. She co-wrote songs with Fagen and worked with Burt Bacharach, Paul Simon, members of The Band, Dr. John and Carly Simon. Simon co-produced Titus' self-titled album in 1977 and sang backup on two songs from that album. Titus also landed acting jobs in two movies, "Heartburn" and "Awakenings," and appeared as a musical guest on Saturday Night Live.
Torn, David: In addition to being a renowned solo guitarist, David Torn is an accomplished composer, engineer and producer. Torn joined The Everyman Band, Lou Reed's recording group, in 1979 for an international tour with Don Cherry. Throughout the '80s, he toured with Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek and formed his own band. In 1992, Torn was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a non-cancerous brain tumor that interferes with hearing and balance. The surgery left Torn deaf in his right ear. He went on to earn "Best Experimental Guitarist" in Guitar Player Magazine Reader's Poll in 1994. Torn has recorded several solo albums and can be found on many movie soundtracks, such as AirHeads and Friday Night Lights, starring Billy Bob Thornton and country singer Tim McGraw. Torn has collaborated with artists David Bowie, Tony Levin, Happy Rhodes and Bill Bruford, as well as many others. He currently runs his own recording studio, The Loop Pool, in Bearsville and his instructional videos can be found at Homespun Tapes in Woodstock. http://www.splattercell.com
Traum, Artie: Award-winning, Woodstock-based singer/songwriter Artie Traum was born in the Bronx and worked the music scene in Greenwich Village. Traum moved to Woodstock in the late '60s, producing records and writing film soundtracks. He and his brother, Happy, united in 1970 and were managed by Albert Grossman, legendary music manager. The Traum's second album, "Double Back," was recorded partly at Bearsville Studios and in Nashville. The brothers also co-hosted a live folk show in 1988, featuring guests like Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Jay Unger and Molly Mason. Traum's produced or recorded with artists John Sebastian, The Band, Tony Levin, Richie Havens, Pete Seeger, plus numerous other top artists. Traum received an award for Best Acoustic Instrumental Album of 1999 for his "Meetings with Remarkable Friends." He has also written dozens of instructional books, tapes and DVDs which are published through Homespun Tapes, Happy's company, in Woodstock. Traum passed away July 20, 2008, after an illness. He was 65. http://www.artietraum.com
Traum, Happy: Singer/songwriter -- and longtime Woodstock resident -- Happy Traum currently runs Homespun Tapes, a company founded by Traum and his wife Jane in 1967 after relocating to Woodstock. Homespun Tapes sells instructional tapes narrated by well-known folk, jazz, blues and rock musicians. Homespun's instructional videos have, for years, reached into Woodstock's remarkable well of talent to use local and national "names" to provide "hands-on" instruction in playing a variety of instruments. In addition to working with his brother, Artie, Traum has played or appeared on recordings with Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Maria Muldaur and countless others. Additionally, he recorded several tracks that appeared on Bob Dylan's "Greatest Hits, Volume II." Traum has written over a dozen instructional guitar books and was the editor for folk magazine Sing Out! http://happytraum.com/happytraum
Ungar, Jay: Bronx-born fiddler Jay Ungar is best known for the Grammy Award-winning song "Ashokan Farewell" from the PBS documentary, "The Civil War." He's also on the soundtracks to Brother's Keeper and Legends of the Fall. Ungar started traveling in the early 1960s, ultimately returning to New York and forming Cat Mother and the All Night Newsboys band in the Greenwich Village area. He joined The David Bromberg Band in the mid-'70s and played with Fiddle Fever, one of the "most electric groups in string band history." The band included his future wife, acoustic bassist Molly Mason. Ungar and Mason released "Harvest Home" in 1999 and "A Song of Home" in 2002. In addition to his recording career, Ungar, along with Mason, founded the Fiddle & Dance Camps at Ashokan, located in the Catskill Mountains. http://www.jayandmolly.com
Veillette, Joe: Joe Veillette is a guitarist, guitar maker, singer, songwriter and more. The Brooklyn native co-founded Veillette-Citron guitars, along with Harvey Citron, in 1975 and currently builds quality, custom-designed electric and acoustic guitars, basses and mandolins under his own company, Veillette Guitars. Some of his customers include Eddie Van Halen, Lauryn Hill, James Taylor, notable Woodstockers and many others. Veillette is a member of Blind Mice, Baird Hersey and PRANA, and he co-founded The Phantoms. The Phantoms have performed with several legendary artists, such as Todd Rundgren and John Sebastian in well-known venues, including Radio City Music Hall. http://www.veilletteguitars.com
Visceglia, Mike: Born in New York City, bassist Mike Visceglia is best known for his work with Suzanne Vega -- he recorded with Vega on her big hit "Luka." Visceglia's touring and recording career began with a 2-year stint with John Cale and working with Hot Tuna's Jorma Kaukonen, Flo & Eddie and many others. Additionally, he's toured with Curtis Stigers, opening for Eric Clapton, Elton John, Rod Stewart and others. When he's not on the road, he splits his time between Manhattan and his Woodstock-area home. http://www.mikevisceglia.com
Weider, Jim: Jim Weider was born and raised in Woodstock. He's known for his mastering of the classic telecaster guitar and for his stint with legendary group The Band. Weider moved to Nashville early in his career and began touring with Johnny Paycheck. However, he returned to Woodstock in the early '80s and began working with Robbie Dupree. Weider met Levon Helm, former drummer for The Band, in the early '80s. He joined Helm's touring band and eventually joined in The Band's reunion tour in 1985, taking Robbie Robertson's place. His stint with the group includes Bob Dylan's tribute concert at Madison Square Garden and Woodstock '94, among others. His debut solo album, "Big Foot," was released in 1999. In addition to Band members, Weider has performed and/or recorded with other well-known Woodstock artists, such as Tony Levin, John Hall, Graham Parker, Paul Butterfield, Tom Pacheco, Hot Tuna and many more. Weider's pre-show ritual includes a glass of red wine while he warms up on the guitar. http://www.jimweider.com
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Weissberg, Eric: He may appear to be a one-hit wonder, but Woodstocker Eric Weissberg is a musician's musician, and a world class one at that. Weissberg is a master of at least ten instruments, though his fame links him to the banjo. Weissberg, along with singer/guitarist -- and fellow Woodstocker -- John Herald formed the Greenbriar Boys in 1958. He has played with countless folk and pop artists, including Judy Collins, Tom Paxton, Billy Joel, the Talking Heads and many others. He's also played with jazz legends Herbie Mann and Bob James, among others. He plays guitar, fiddle, Dobro, mandolin and several other instruments. But it's 1973's "Dueling Banjos" that brought the Weissberg name into the mainstream. http://www.wfma.net/weissbrg.htm
Wilson, Cassandra: Born in Jackson, MS, Grammy-award winner Cassandra Wilson started playing guitar and piano at the age of 9 and moved to New York City in the early '80s where she began working with bassist Dave Holland. Wilson worked as the original main vocalist with M-Base Collective, eventually going solo and recording her first album in 1985. Performing original work at first, Wilson switched to performing country blues and folk remakes for Blue Note. She became a top '90's jazz singer and was recognized as Time Magazine's America's Best Singer in 2001. Wilson released "Traveling Miles" - a Miles Davis tribute - in 1999, "Belly of the Sun" in 2002, "Glamoured" in 2003 and "Thunderbird" in 2006, dubbed a 4-star album by USA Today. http://www.cassandrawilson.com
Windo, Gary: England-born saxophonist Gary Windo worked with numerous artists throughout the years, including Carla Bley, Jack Bruce, Don Cherry, Chick Corea and others. Windo eventually relocated to Woodstock with wife Pam and, by the mid 1980s, was performing as a semi-regular with NRBQ, Todd Rundgren, the Psychedelic Furs and others. He also had his own band, The Gary Windo Quartet, which included fellow Woodstocker Steve Swallow. Windo died on July 25, 1992 at the age of 50.
Yamagata, Rachael: Born in Arlington, VA, singer, songwriter, piano-playing Rachael Yamagata compared to Fiona Apple, with her raspy vocals and passion-filled songs. Yamagata studied flute for a short time as a child, but quickly moved on to the piano. After attending college for a brief time, she left to pursue a singing career. She started her career performing in musical theater and serving as a vocalist in the Chicago-based funk band Bumpus. After several years with Bumpus, Yamagata's solo career catapulted after attending an open mic night in 2001, which led to her performing at LA's famed Viper Room later that year. Her first solo show was at the Living Room in New York City. Her second show -- a much more unforgettable performance -- had her opening for David Gray in front of a sold-out audience at Madison Square Garden. Yamagata signed with RCA Victor Group in 2003 and her recording efforts brought her to the Woodstock area. For Yamagata, 2004 was a busy year. She released her self-titled EP and her first full-length solo album, "Happenstance," and she headlined her first tour. Yamagata is currently a Woodstock resident. http://www.rachaelyamagata.com
Zaloom, Chris: Steel pedal guitarist Chris Zaloom is considered one of the best telecaster players around and has been performing and recording for decades in the Woodstock area. He is best known for his work with the band Fear Itself, a late-'60s psychedelic blues band from Atlanta. Fear Itself performed at the '69 Woodstock Festival. Other members included Ellen Mcllwaine, Paul Album and Bill McCord. Zaloom was also a member of The Bugs, The Cats, The Pups, The Reptiles, The Scrubs and Enormous Johnson. And he's worked with numerous artists, including members of the Band, Cindy Cashdollar, Dave Holland, Bruce Katz, Rob Leon, Charles Lyonhart, Dave Sanborn, Happy and Artie Traum, Jim Weider and many more. He's an accomplished instructor and has played in recent years with Woodstock-based band Mechanical Bull.Zaloom is a longtime Woodstock resident.
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Last Updated: 09/05/2009
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